Christmas Excess

[TheArtfulDogger]

I'm sure it's not just me but I am convinced this year that the advertising for Christmas is way in Excess of last year.

I do find that it has commercialised Christmas, and I am aware it's been happening forever, but are we in danger of forgetting the message of Christmas (peace and goodwill to all) in our mad consumer rush to buy everything that no one actually wants, stock our fridges and freezers with enough food and drink to feed a small island (what obesity crisis?) and then be expected to be jolly throughout the festive period all the while knowing that we will be paying for it for the next 11 months !

I am already feeling ill looking at all the "party food" advertised (all with enough additives and preservatives in them to ensure you will never rot after you die) and the insane concept that we need to get a new party outfit for the season (heads up wear something you wore two years ago, no one will remember unless they have a photographic memory or you have eaten too much party food already)

On top of that there are sports TV packages being sold as the perfect festive upgrade, then there is the rush for the X factor number one single... it all seems too much for what is essentially a religious festival that has been superimposed on a pegan ritual.

I am seriously thinking of starting a grass roots movement to decommercialise christmas, and please don't get me wrong it's not a bah humbug movement, I still enjoy giving and receiving small token presents (at my age there is very little I want or need), having good friends or family around for a relaxing meal on Christmas Day (note the use of the word meal and not excessive feast) and remembering those who can't be with us at this time of year

I was thinking of also calling this grass roots movement " keep Christmas uncomplicated " but that may need working on.

Please please please let me know I'm not alone in feeling like this, but if I am then I will shut up, gorge myself to death on a seven bird roast and never mention it again (well not before next Christmas that is)

[Grok]

How about a 65quid ring of flowers?

[siousxiesue]

Try working in retail, we started displaying Christmas chocolates/biscuits in September. It's a deliberate ploy-people buy them early, end up eating them, then buy again!

And the packaging...don't get me started! I wholeheartedly agree on a quieter, less manic atmosphere but we have no chance. The marketing departments see to that.

[uncleglen]

fortunately I am good with the 'mute' button and I am avoiding shops since everyone is wandering around with bad colds etc and spreading their germs.

There are so many fake and substandard goods around as well....just going to ignore the whole sorry palaver

[Sue]

You don't have to buy into all that (literally!)

You can just let it pass you by .....

We had our family pre-Christmas get-together yesterday (only date everybody could make) and it was lovely. Good company and home made food from several different family members.

You can have a feel-good time without spending loads of money on crap food and over-advertised gadgets etc.

[Jules-and-Boo]

I agree - can't stand it - it's too superficial and the meaning is lost - which is being with friends and family and slowing down.

We spent the weekend making little parcels of fudge and truffles and having fun...much better than Oxford Street panic-buying...

[Jah Lush]

Apart from Xmas Day where I have been invited round to a friend's house I'm ignoring all of it. I'm not religious and I stopped believing in Santa a very long time ago. I believe in peace and goodwill to everyone all year round, not just at EXCESSmas. It's all a load of fake bollocks designed to take your money.

[solar]

Completely agree Artful. The whole meaning of Christmas has been totally overtaken by consumerism. My job goes completely manic this time of year.

[KalamityKel]

Which Christmas we talking about here? I'm already in 2019! :O

[numbers]

Agreed artful. Had to suffer auld Lang syne playing in a local shop recently. Made me want to make a swift exit which I'm sure is not their intention.

The party snacks are making me feel quite ill just looking at them. Avoid supermarkets if you can just buy what you need. Fashion magazines are all about the perfect party outfit and how to transform your day look into evening. Ad nauseum.

[Alan Medic]

It's easy to transform my day look into evening, for me. I just fall asleep.

[lavender27]

I am totally with you on that on e ArtfulDogger, it's just another day. It causes to much stress and running round backwards, it's special if you have children about it makes it better, but they might grow up thinking like us. Shops cash in at Christmas time, it's quite gluttonous the way our kitchens are full of food that would feed the whole of Africa.

What about the rest of the year when some of us are alone, makes no difference, don't be alone at Christmas?!!! Don't be alone anytime of the year, it'sa personal choice. Go to church and praise the lord, do not pass go and do not collect ?200.

Christmas should be panned out over the whole year, not just at the end of the year, then new year a week later, its to close together then nothing till the Easter bunny pops his head up. Lets all go to Bethlehem, I bet they don't have Christmas trees and santa and his elves.

Humble pie for me this Christmas. Goodnight.

[KidKruger]

What Jah said.

[JohnL]

Brexmas

[alice]

So with your excess cash go over to Annebowers post on what's on. Feel better now?

[Alan Medic]

Good things about Christmas over the years:

Believing in Santa

Going home to family and meeting friends I might only see once a year

Having a child who believed in Santa

Having a child who stopped believing in Santa

It's generally a nice time of year. I don't pay attention to adverts. The only thing I dislike about it is that there has got to be people out there with kids who just can't afford to give them what they would like to. Actually there's one thing I hate about it, and that's people talking about it feckin months in advance.

[????]

So to summarise.....miserable gits

[teddyboy23]

Don't remember much about Xmas last year. Only carol singing. and she was terrible!

[JohnL]

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Good things about Christmas over the years:

> Believing in Santa

> Going home to family and meeting friends I might

> only see once a year

> Having a child who believed in Santa

> Having a child who stopped believing in Santa

>

> It's generally a nice time of year. I don't pay

> attention to adverts. The only thing I dislike

> about it is that there has got to be people out

> there with kids who just can't afford to give them

> what they would like to. Actually there's one

> thing I hate about it, and that's people talking

> about it feckin months in advance.

When you don't have many family remaining - it does become

a little sad sometimes.

You just have to try and use it to keep in touch a bit with

those left.

[TheArtfulDogger]

???? Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> So to summarise.....miserable gits

No quids, not at all, most posters here like the concept of Christmas (getting together with friends and family.) They, like me, just don't like how commercial it all is especially the glutinous food adverts by the supermarkets

Alan, did you really say someone doesn't believe in Santa ? Does that mean a fairy light will die as a result?